The Fraunhofer E-Concept Car uses wheel-hub motors, just like its 110-year old predecessor, the Lohner-Porsche. Is it (finally) time for this tech to make a comeback?

Researchers at Germany's Fraunhofer Institute recently unveiled their vision of the electric car—but the technology would have been familiar to Ferdinand Porsche, the icon of German automotive engineering. The Fraunhofer E-Concept Car uses wheel-hub motors (left) that were a prominent feature of the Lohner-Porsche, invented in 1900. The power and control electronics are integrated into the hub motor, freeing up space under the hood and eliminating the need for a transmission. The researchers say the high-power density of the new motors, along with a carefully configured chassis, helps the car avoid the handling problems that have plagued previous wheel-mounted designs.